COURSE CURRICULUM

The Criminology program spans three years, offering a comprehensive understanding of crime, deviance, and the criminal justice system through theoretical, practical, and research-based learning. In Year 1, students undertake four core 30-credit modules: Foundations of Criminology introduces key criminological theories and concepts of crime and criminalisation; Forensic Criminology explores forensic psychology and crime scene investigation, developing analytical and ethical reasoning; Understanding Deviance examines social structures, inequalities, and their links to criminal behaviour; and Criminal Justice Process and Practice provides a detailed overview of the English legal system and its operational agencies. These modules lay the groundwork for further criminological study and encourage early engagement with social and legal contexts. In Year 2, students explore Criminological Research Methods, where they develop practical research skills, including data collection and analysis. Criminological Perspectives deepens understanding of theoretical frameworks and institutions of punishment, while Crime Media and Culture and Policing and Society broaden students' views on the intersection between society, authority, and representations of crime. These modules enhance both academic and practical knowledge, preparing students for research and professional application. In Year 3, students complete the compulsory module Crime in the City, Crime and the State, which investigates the spatial and political dimensions of crime. They then select 90 credits from various options, including research-based modules like the Dissertation Project or Undergraduate Research Placement, which foster independence and investigative rigor. Students can also choose applied or thematic modules such as Women, Power, Crime and Justice, Restorative Justice, Gangs, Guns and Knife Crime, and Penology, or practice-based modules like Criminology, the Community and Work Based Practice. Shorter 15-credit options allow for focused exploration of current topics such as terrorism, drug policy, and violence. This structure ensures that students graduate with strong critical, analytical, and research skills, and are prepared for careers in criminal justice, policy, or further study.